Tobias Sylvester
Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old man identified as Mutiu Sonola for allegedly beating his wife, Zainab shotayo, to death on Christmas Day.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a release stated that Mutiu habitually beat his wife at any slightest provocation and that the latest assault leading to the woman’s death was triggered by a “minor disagreement.”
The suspect persisted in hitting the deceased despite being told by neighbours to desist from further assaulting her, until the 34-year-old woman slumped and slipped into coma.
Mutiu fled home when he noticed that his wife was not likely to survive the beating.
Oyeyemi said that neighbours notified the father of the woman, who rushed to the scene and took his daughter to the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, for treatment but doctors confirmed she was brought in dead.
“The suspect was arrested on Wednesday 25th of December 2019 following a report by the father of the deceased who complained at Ibara division that he was called on phone that his daughter was having a misunderstanding with her husband and that she has been beaten to comma by the husband.
“He said that he quickly rushed to the scene and took her daughter to the General hospital, Ijaye where the doctor confirmed her dead.
“As soon as the suspect realised that the victim is dead, he took to his heels and on the strength of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ibara division, Dada Olusegun mobilized his detectives and went after the suspect.
“His hiding place was eventually located and he was promptly arrested,” he said.
Oyeyemi said the remains of the woman had been deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital, Ijaiye for autopsy, while her husband would be transferred to the homicide section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and prosecution.
